By Benedicte Carriere
VE Volunteer from Ontario, Canada
To be honest, I approached last weekend’s Jornada with mixed feelings. While a retreat with VE volunteers and staff with the goal of resting, re-focusing and bonding seemed like a great, and much needed, idea I couldn’t help but think of previous, not so enjoyable, retreats I have been on.
Working in the social services, I have had the opportunity to go on many retreats. While they have always seemed good in theory, in practice, they have often turned out to feel a bit forced, disingenuous and….cheesy. Truthfully, I was a bit afraid that my opinion of VE- who have always impressed me with their lack of cheesiness in everything they do- might be changed by this weekend. Happily though, VE came through for me once again with a weekend filled with fun, relaxation and very little (if any) cheese.
I have spent quite a bit of time trying to reflect on the reason this experience was different, and so much more positive, than my other retreat experiences. On the surface, it didn’t seem that much different- time for discussion and reflection, some team building games (though these games were actually fun!), time for socializing- but something felt different. While I can’t say with any certainty what that ‘something’ was, I can share some of the thoughts that have come to mind during my reflections.
First of all, I think the setting – surrounded by nature and the Andes, cozy rooms with stone walls and fireplaces, and fun things to do (beautiful walks to go on, a lovely pool, a rope swing!) – and the general ‘buena onda’ of the location (run by a wonderful hippy couple) made the experience so much more enjoyable than retreats held in conference rooms.
Secondly, and probably most importantly, I think the people who make up the VE community make anything short of genuineness impossible. Since coming here, I have been so impressed by the dedication, the warmth, the sincerity and the kindness of my fellow volunteers/interns and the VE staff. They have seen me on my good, bad and ugly days and continue to accept me and see the good in me. I think that is a huge part of the reason our discussions and activities felt comfortable and not forced- there was already a level of trust, friendship and closeness that could only be built upon.
Thirdly, I think that my work with VE has changed me in a way that made Jornada more relevant to me. VE has encouraged me, in all the work I do, to think about the bigger picture- my (and VE’s) vision, goals etc. that I have often lost sight of in busyness of my daily work. This has not only helped to avoid (though not perfectly all the time) getting lost in the daily struggles and negativity, but it also made the opportunity to reflect on these goals and the ‘big picture’ seem more relevant.
Finally, I can say, without a doubt that the delicious meals served by the antiguo staff and volunteers, without a doubt, trumped the soggy sandwiches and stale muffins of many past retreat experiences.
And, so, here I am back in Santiago, successfully rested, refreshed and refocused and ready to take on my work with a new energy, feeling more supported than ever by the VE community.